Vessel positioning apparatus



July 18, 1967 R ETAL 3,331,431

VES SEL POS ITION ING APPARATUS Filed April 6, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS July 18, 1967 L. BRAY ETAL VESSEL POSITIONING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 6, 1966 2 .5 6 5 2 2 2 R 4, WW 3 a. 6 Q A om 4 9 3 ////F 5 4). w z WK July 18, 1967 T. L. BRAY ETAL 3,331,431

' VESSEL POSITIONING APPARATUS Filed April 6, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 y 18 1967 L WY HAL 333M531 VESSEL POSITIONING APPARATUS Filed April 6. 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,331,431 VESSEL POSITIONDJG APPARATUS Thomas L. Bray, Birmingham, Ala., and Daniel B. Cofer,

Dale D. Froctor, and George C. Ward, Carrollton, Ga.,

assignors to Southwire Company, Carroilton, Ga., a

corporation of Georgia Filed Apr. 6, 1966, Ser. No. 540,756 Claims. (Cl. 164-337) This invention relates generally to positioning apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for positioning a vessel containing molten metal relative to a casting mold into which the molten metal is to be transferred from the vessel.

It is a frequent requirement in the casting art that molten metal from a furnace be received in a vessel intermediate the furnace and a mold. This is because the vessel permits more accurately controlled pouring of the molten metal into the mold than is possible when pouring the molten metal directly from the furnace. In conventional casting, very little apparatus for positioning such a vessel with respect to the mold is required since manual and limited control of the position of the vessel generally provides sufliciently accurate control of the pouring of the molten metal into the mold to achieve sound castings. However, in continuous casting changes in casting rate and other factors require that the control of pouring be not only accurate but also easily and quickly changed.

Thus, the relative position of the vessel containing molten metal with respect to the mold and changes in this position are of major importance in continuous casting. This has resulted in the use of many arrangements of apparatus for positioning a vessel with respect to a mold.

One of the problems encountered with most of these previous arrangements of apparatus for positioning a vessel with respect to a mold has been their lack of sufiicient flexibility to position the vessel in that varied number of positions usually required in continuous casting. This has been particularly true in continuous casting using a casting wheel since adjustments of vessel position have characteristically been limited to those obtainable by motion along an arcuate path adjacent the casting wheel. Moreover, many of these previous arrangements of apparatus for positioning a vessel have required manual adjustments during casting which have subjected operating personnel to the danger of being burned by the molten metal.

The invention disclosed herein overcomes these and other problems associated with prior art apparatus for positioning a vessel containing molten metal with respect to a mold in that it provides that variety of movements of the vessel required for the correct positioning of the vessel relative to the mold and of a pouring spout relative to molten metal in the mold during all casting conditions. Moreover, all changes in the position 'of the vessel can be made in such a manner that associated equipment is not subjected to the damage and operating personnel are not subjected to the dangers from molten metal frequency associated with prior art apparatus. In addition, means is provided for regulating the flow of the molten metal into the vessel regardless of the position of the vessel relative to the mold.

The invention provides the required variety of movements to a vessel by including means for adjusting the position of the vessel along a substantially vertical line of motion, means for adjusting the position of the vessel along a plurality of lines of motion transverse to the vertical line of motion, and means for rotatably adjusting the position of the vessel about an axis transverse to the vertical line of motion. Regulation of the flow of molten metal into the vessel in a manner consistent with the variety of positions of the vessel obtainable is achieved by regulating the flow of molten metal in response to a force acting in a line of force parallel to the vertical line of motion and which is proportional to the weight of the molten metal in the vessel.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly understood upon consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout and in which:

FIG. 1 is an overall side elevational view of a continw ous casting machine partly broken away to show the invention more clearly.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vertical adjustment portion of the invention taken substantially in its vertical centerline.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the vertical adjustment portion of the invention taken in line 33 in FIG. 2 and partially broken away to show the motor drive for vertical motion.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational view partially broken away to show the vertical motion limit adjustment of the vertical adjustment portion of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the transverse adjustment portion and the rotational adjustment portion of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of those portions of the invention shown in FIG. 5 taken in line 66 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of those portions of the invention shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of those portions of the invention shown in FIG. 5 taken in line 88 in FIG. 5.

These figures and the following detailed description disclose a specific embodiment of the invention. However, it is to be understood that the inventive concept is not limited to this embodiment since the invention may be embodied in other equivalent forms.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the vessel positioning apparatus disclosed herein is generally designated as 10 and serves to position a vessel 11 such as a pouring pot adjacent a casting machine C. The apparatus 10 is mounted on the central base 12 of the casting machine C. The casting machine C is conventional and carries a casting wheel 14 on the central base 12 partially encircled by a belt 15. The belt 15 extends along the casting wheel 14 and around three support wheels 16 which are also carried by the central base 12 and which provide for motion of the belt 15 with rotation of the casting wheel 14 in conventional manner.

A pouring spout 18 extends from the vessel 11 and into the mold M formed by the belt 15 and casting groove 19 of the casting wheel 14. Thus, molten metal in the vessel ll is discharged through the pouring spout 18 into the mold M.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the apparatus 10 disclosed herein is best understood as comprising a cradle portion D which serves as means for receiving and fixedly engaging the vessel 11, a vertical adjustment portion V which serves as means for adjusting the position of the cradle portion D along a substantially vertical line of motion, a transverse adjustment portion T which serves as means for adjusting the position of cradle portion D along one or more lines of motion transverse to a vertical line of motion, a rotational adjustment portion R which serves as means for adjusting the position of the cradle D portion about an axis transverse to a vertical line of motion, and a flow control portion F which serves as means for controlling the flow of molten metal into the vessel 11 in response to the pivoted weight of molten metal in the vessel 11. Each of these portions D, V, T, R, and F of the apparatus is described in detail below.

Refer-ring more particularly to FIGURES 2 and 3, it will be seen that the vertical adjustment portion V of the apparatus 10 extends into the central base 12 and comprises an inner column 21 slideably carried within a concentrically located outer column 22. A plurality of spacers 24 extend from the inner column 21 and between the inner column 21 and the outer column 22 so that the inner column 21 is maintained concentrically within the outer colunm 22 by slideable engagement of the spacers 24 with the outer column 22.

The outer column 22 carries a flange 25 which ispositioned on the horizontal plate 52 of the central base 12. The horizontal plate 52 has an aperture 54 through which the lower end of the vertical adjutsment portion V extends. A plurality of braces 26 extend upwardly along the outer column 22 from the flange 25 to aid in maintaining the centerlines of the columns 21 and 22 approximately perpendicular to the horizontal plate 52. V

A locating pin 28 is threadedly received through the side of the outer column 22 and extends into an alignment groove 29 extending along the length of one of the spacers 24. It will be understood that the locating pin 28 and the alignment groove 29 together serve to allow slideable movement of the inner column 21 within the outer column 22 while preventing rotation of the inner column 21 relative to the outer column 22. An alignment button 51 extending from horizontal plate 52 into an alignment recess 50 in the flange 25 serves to prevent rotation of the outer column 22 relative to the central base 12.

The upper end of the inner column 21 carries a support table 30 which is positioned substantially perpendicular to the centerline of the inner column 21. At one end of the support table 30 are a pair of mounting ears 32, one mounting car 32 being fixedly attached to the support table 30 at each of opposite sides thereof.

Attached to the lower end of the outer column 22' is a screw jack 35 having a threaded central shaft 36 which is aligned with the centerline of the inner column 21 and which has its upper end rotatably attached to the lower end of the inner column 21 so that the central shaft 36 rotates without the inner column 21 rotating. It will be understood that as the central shaft 36 rotates and moves with respect to the outer column 22, the inner column 21 is in turn moved along a substantially vertical line of motion with respect to the outer column 22. The screw jack 35 is conventional and has an input shaft 39 which, when driven, serves to'rotate the central shaft 36. The input shaft 39 is driven through a speed reducing gear 59 and a pair of couplings 61 by a motor 55 mounted in the central base 12 on a transversely extending cross brace 56. i

That portion of the central shaft 36 extending from the lower side of the screw jack 35 extends into a limit switch tube 40. The tube 40 is a tubular member attached at its upperend to the screw jack 35 and is concentric with the extending lower end of the central shaft 36. The tube 40 has a length greater than the extending length of the central shaft 36 when the inner column 21 is inlowered position and is closed at its lower end by a cap 41.

As is best shown in FIG. 4, a collar 42 is threadedly received on the central shaft 36 within the tube 49. The

collar 42 has an arm 44 which extends through a longitudinally extending guide slot 45 in the tube 40 so as to prevent rotation of the collar 42 with the central shaft 36. Thus, when the central shaft 36 is rotated by operation of the screw jack 35, the collar 42 moves vertically within the tube 40 with the central shaft 36 and the arm 44 moves vertically within the guide slot 45.

The motion of the arm 44 serves to prevent inadvertent moving of the inner column 21 too far up or too far down since the arm 44 engages a limit switch 46 at each end of its travel or motion in guide slot 45. The limit switches 46 are conventional and serve to stop the motor 55 driving the screw jack 35 when either is activated by the arm 44. The positions of the limit switches 46 are adjustable along the length of the tube 40 so that the upper and lower limits of movement of the inner column 21 within the outer column 22 can be easily adjusted. It will be understood that a suitable electrical circuit such as that shown schematically in FIG. 4 and having the motor 55 in series with the limit switches 46 is provided.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be seen that the transverse adjustment portion T'of the apparatus 10 includes a pivotal plate 56 having a mounting bearing 58 along one side thereof adapted to fit between the mounting ears 32 of the support table 30 and to receive a rod 60 which extends between and through apertures in the mounting ears 32. The pivotal plate 56 is pivotable about the rod 60 and in that embodiment of the apparatus 10 disclosed herein, the mounting ears 32 are positioned so that the centerline of the rod 60 is substantially transverse to the axis of rotation of the casting wheel 14.

The pivotal plate 56 is maintained in a substantially horizontal plane by a load-cell 62 which is positioned on the support table 30 beneath that end of the pivotal plate 56 opposite the mounting is conventional and is part of the flow control portion F of the apparatus 10. The load pin 64 of the load-cell 62 engages the underside of the pivotal plate 56 and it will be understood that the load-cell 62 not only supports one end of the pivotal plate 56, but is also responsive to the weight pivoted about the rod 60 as will be more fully considered below.

A pair of vertically extending side plates 66 are slideably positoned on the pivotal plate 56 at opposite sides thereof as shown in FIG. 8. Each of the side plates 66 has a bearing flange 68 which rests on a bearing plate 69 carried in a recess in the pivotal plate 56.

The side plates 66 are maintained in vertical position by a central member which comprises a pair of spaced channels 71 fixedly attached to the top of the pivotal plate 56 and joined by an upper plate 72 extending between the channels 71 parallel to pivotal plate 56. The outer side of each channel 71 has fixedly attached thereto a vertical bearing plate 74 which provides sliding contact with a similar bearing plate 75 carried by the inner side of each of the side plates 66. Connecting pins 76 extend between the side plates 66 through slots 13 in the channels 71 and the bearing plates 74 and 75. It will be understood that the connecting pins 76 serve to hold the side plates 66 and their bearing plates 75 in slideable engage ment with the channels 71 and their hearing plates 74.

Attached to and extending between the upper flanges of side plates 66 is a bearing plate and extending down- 85 between the side plates 7 wardly from the bearing plate 66 adjacent each end of pivotal plate 56 is a vertical plate 78. It will now be understood that the side plates 66, the bearing plate 85, and the vertical plates 78 provide a structure T slideably movable on the pivotal plate 56.

This structure T is that'part of the transverse adjustment portion T of the apparatus 10 which provides slideable motion of the vessel 11 in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the casting wheel 14.

' As shown in FIG. 6, the structure T is moved by attaching a threaded boss 79 to a vertical'plate 78 and bearing 58. The load-cell 62 which threadably engages a threaded shaft 84 extending through the vertical plate 78 and driven by operation of a motor 80 mounted on one side of the pivotal plate 56.

The motor 80 is an electrical motor or other conventional means for driving the input shaft 83 of a right angle speed reducing gear 82 mounted on the pivotal plate 56 and having the shaft 84 as its output shaft. Thus, the selective operation of the motor 80 through a conventional electrical circuit (not shown) provides for the movement and positioning of the structure T along a line of motion substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the casting wheel 14. Slots (not shown) in side plate 66 and bearing plate 75 adjacent the motor 80 permit motion of the structure T relative to the input shaft 83. Similarly, the pins 76 slide with the structure T' in the slots 13 to permit motion of the structure T relative to the channels 71. Limit switches 140 and 141 are positioned on the pivotal plate 56 on opposite sides of a vertical plate 78 and are arranged in a conventional circuit (not shown) with the motor 80 to stop operation of the motor 80 and motion of the structure T when either switch 140 or 141 is engaged by the vertical plate 78. Thus, the switches 140 and 141 serve to limit motion of the structure T.

Slideably positioned on the bearing plate 85 is a sliding plate 88 having flanges 86 which extend downwardly along those opposite sides of the bearing plate 85 which are transverse to the direction of slideable motion of the bearing plate 85. Thus, the sliding plate 88 is slideably movable across the bearing plate 85 only in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the bearing plate 85. The sliding plate 88 is retained in position on the bearing plate 85 by retaining clips 90 attached by bolts 89 to the under sides of the flanges 86. The sliding plate 88 provides a second structure T" which serves as a part of the transverse adjustment portion T of the apparatus that is slideably movable relative to pivotal plate 56 in direction transverse to that of the structure T. Fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the sliding plate 88 is a block 91 which threadably receives an output'shaft 95 driven by a motor 92 through a speed reducing gear 94.

As shown in FIG. 8, the motor 92 is an electrical motor or other conventional means for rotating the shaft 95 and is mounted on a motor support 96 fixedly attached to one of the side plates 66. Thus, operation of the motor 92 through a conventional electrical circuit (not shown) serves to move and position the structure T" in a direction transverse to the direction of the structure T' and to the axis of rotation of the casting wheel 14. It will be noted that both the structure T and the structure T" are movable transverse to the vertical line of motion of the inner column 21. Motion of the structure T" is limited by a switch 142 mounted on the bearing plate 85 and having a wand 143 extending through a hole 144 in the bearing plate 85 and into a slot 145 in the sliding plate 88. The centerline of the slot 145 is in the direction of motion of the sliding plate 88 and the switch operatively connected in conventional manner (not shown) to the motor 92 so as to stop the motor 92 whenever the wand 143 is pushed to the right or left as viewed in FIG. 8 by motion of the sliding plate 88.

As shown in FIG. 6, each of the slides 101 is held in a bearing recess 100 by a retaining clamp 102 attached to the bearing plate 99 by bolts 65. The retaining clamps 102 serve to hold the slides 101 within the recesses 100 while still permitting slideable movement. Fixedly attached to and extending upwardly from each slide 101 are a pair of support stanchions 104. A brace member 105 extends between the stanchions 104 and maintains the stanchions 104 in rigid vertical spaced relationship. Thus, it will be understood that the slides 101, the stanchions 104, and the brace member 105 form the rotational adjustment portion R of the apparatus 10 which is slideably movable on the bearing plates 99 with a motion which rotates rotational adjustment portion R about an axis containing the centers of curvature of the hearing plates 99. It will be understood that this axis is parallel to the direction of motion of the pivotal plate 56 and to the axis of rotation of the casting wheel 14.

As shown in FIG. 8, motion of the rotational adjustment portion R about this axis is provided by mounting a threaded sleeve 106 on the brace member using a mounting bracket 108 which allows the sleeve 106 to pivot with respect to the brace member 105 about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the portion R. A rod 109 is threadably received through the sleeve 106 and through an aperture 110 in the brace member 105. The aperture 110 is shaped to allow the end of the rod 109 to move without striking the brace member 105 as the rod 109 and sleeve 106 pivot on the mounting bracket 108.

A hand wheel support 111 is attached to and extends upwardly from the sliding plate 88 and has a mounting bracket 112 at its upper end on which a bearing sleeve 114 is mounted for rotational movement about an axis of rotation parallel to the axis of rotation of the sleeve 106. The rod 109 extends through the bearing sleeve 114 and is fixed therein in conventional manner for rotational movement but no movement along its centerline relative to the bearing sleeve 14. Thus, rotation of the rod 109 results in movement of the sleeve 106 relative to the bearing sleeve 114 and it will be understood that since the sleeve 106 is pivotally attached to the portion R, rotation of the rod 109 serves to slidably move the structure R about its axis of rotation along the bearing plates 99.

It will also be understood that rotation of rod 109 may be provided by an electrical motor or other power means. However, in that embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, rotation of the rod 109 is provided by fixedly mounting a hand wheel 115 at the outer end of the rod 109. The hand wheel 115 is easily and safely grasped by operating personnel.

Mounted on and extending between opposite ends of the top edges of the stanchions 104 are vessel support plates 118. The vessel support plates 118 extend parallel to each other and to the axis of rotation of the portion R and are positioned to engage the mounting tabs 119 of the vessel 11. Cut-outs 120 are provided in the stanchions 104 to permit the vessel 11 to be cradled between the vessel support plates 118 with the entire Weight of the vessel 11 being supported by the vessel support plates 118. Mounting pins 121 extend upwardly from the vessel support plates 118 and are positioned to extend through holes (not shown) in the mounting tabs 119 of the vessel 11. The mounting pins 121 serve to fix the position of the vessel 11 on the vessel support plates 118 and it will be understood that the vessel support plates 118 and the pins 11 provide the cradle portion D of the apparatus 10. It will also be understood that a vessel 11 may be positioned in or removed from the vessel positioning apparatus 10 disclosed herein by simply lifting or lowering the vessel 11 relative to vessel support plates 118 with a crane or other similar lifting means.

From the foregoing description of an embodiment of the invention it will be seen that the invention provides a cradle portion 1) which serves as a cradle means to receive and fixedly engage a vessel 11, a vertical adjustment portion V which serves as a means for adjusting the position of the cradle means and a vessel 11 along a straight substantially vertical line of motion, a transverse adjustment portion T including a structure T which serves as a means for adjusting the position of the cradle means and a vessel 11 along a straight substantially horizontal line of motion which is transverse or perpendicular to the vertical line of motion of the portion V and a structure T" which serves as a means for adjusting the position of the cradle means and a vessel 11 along a straight substantially horizontal line of motion which is transverse or perpendicular to the vertical line of motion of the portion V and angularly disposed or perpendicular to the transverse line of motion of the structure T, and a rotational adjustment portion R which serves as a means for rotating the cradle means and a vessel 11 about an axis of rotation transverse or perpendicular to the vertical line of motion of the portion V.

In that embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, the portions V, T, and R are arranged with respect to a casting wheel 14 having a horizontal axis of rotation so that the vertical line of motion of the portion V is transverse to the axis of rotation of the casting wheel 14, the line of motion of the structure T of the portion T is parallel to the axis of rotation of the casting wheel 14, the line of motion of the structure T" of the portion T is transverse to the axis of rotation of the casting wheel 14, and the axis of rotation of the portion R is parallel to the axis of rotation of the casting wheel 14. Thus, the vertical position of the vessel 11 relative to the casting wheel 14 is adjusted by the portion V, the horizontal position of the vessel 11 relative to the casting wheel 14 is adjusted by the portion T comprising the structures T and T, and the rotational position of the vessel 11 relative to the casting wheel 14 is adjusted by the structure R. The adjustments of the position of the vessel 11 provide for the proper positioning of the vessel 11 regardless of operating requirements and it should be noted that where, as shown in FIG. 1, the vessel 11 has a pouring spout 18 or other means for conveying molten meal from the vessel 11 to the mold M, the angular position of the delivery axis 126 of the pouring spout 18 is adjustable independently of the horizontal and vertical positions of the vessel 11. Moreover, where the pouring spout 18 is arranged so that the delivery axis 126 of the pouring spout 18 intersects the axis of rotation of the portion R, the angular position of the spout 18 is directly related to the angular position of the vessel 11 about the axis of rotation of the portion R.

It should also be noted that motors 55, 80, and 92 provide for the remote positioning of the vessel 11 relative to the casting wheel 14 when suitable conventional electric circuits are provided. Circuits similar to that schematically shown in FIG. 4 will be apparent to those skilled irr the art and as indicated above, the inclusion of the limit switches 46 and 47 in the circuit for the motor 55 will insure that motion of the vertical adjustment portion V does not exceed variable predetermined limits. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that a circuit such as that shown schematically in FIG. 7 and which includes the load-cell 62 and a valve 130 a to control the flow of molten metal through a tube 131 to the vessel 11 from a furnace or other source (not shown) will provide the flow control portion F of the apparatus 16 and accurate and effective control of the quantity of molten metal in the vessel 11.

This is because the load-cell 62 not only serves as a switch means but also as a means for supporting the combined weight of the portions D, T, and R of the apparatus 19, the vessel 11, and molten metal in the vessel 11 as this combined weight is pivoted about the rod 60. Thus, 'for any given positions of the portions D, T, and R, the loadcell 62 is immediately responsive to changes in this combined weight in terms of changes in the component of force which is continually acting on the load-cell 62 along a line of force parallel to the vertical line of motion of the portion V.

The pivotal positioning of vessel 11 about the rod 60 also provides for the convenient dumping of molten metal from the vessel 11 for cleaning or other purposes.

This is accomplished by simply pivoting the vessel 11 and the portions D, T, and R of the apparatus 19 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 6 to cause molten metal to flow in the vessel'11 to that end opposite that from which the pouring spout 13 extends. Although this pivotal motion of the vessel 11 can be accomplished manually, it is most conveniently achieved by a piston 150 extending from a hydraulic cylinder 151 mounted on the support table 30. Hydraulic fluid (not shown) in lines 152 from a hydraulic fluid source (not shown) serves to cause the piston 150 to engage and pivot the pivotal plate 56.

It will also be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations may be made in the embodiments chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed as invention is:

1. An apparatus for positioning a vessel relative to a casting wheel rotatable about an axis of rotation and having an annular groove into which molten metal is discharged from said vessel through a spout extending from and movable with said vessel, cradle means for receiving said vessel, vertical adjustment means for adjusting the position of said cradle means and said spout relative to said groove along a straight substantially vertical line of motion, a first horizontal adjustment means for adjusting the position of said cradle means and said spout along a straight substantially horizontal line of motion substantially parallel to said axis of rotation of said casting wheel, and a second horizontal adjustment means for adjusting the position of said cradle means and said spout along a straight substantially horizontal line of motion substantially perpendicular to said axis of rotation of said casting wheel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including means responsive to the motion of said cradle means along said vertical line of motion for rendering said vertical adjustment means inoperative when a predetermined range of motion along said vertical line of motion is exceeded.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for ro-.

tatably adjusting the position of said cradle means and said spout relative to said mold about a rotational axis transverse to said vertical line of motion, said means being operable independently of said vertical adjustment means.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the position of said rotational axis is adjustable with the position of said cradle means along said vertical line of motion.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for controlling the fiow of molten metal to said vessel through said spout in response to changes in the weight of molten metal in said vessel acting along a line of force substantially parallel to said vertical line of motion 6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said spout extends into said groove along a delivery axis and including rotational adjustment means for rotating said cradle means and said spout about a substantially horizontal rotational axis which is substantially parallel to said axis of rotation of said casting wheel and which intersects said delivery axis. 5

7. The apparatus of claim 5 including means for pivoting said changes in the weight of molten metal about a sub- 3 stantially horizontal pivot axis.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 including means for pivot-.

. ing said cradle means, said first horizontal adjustment means, said second horizontal adjustment means, and

said rotational adjustment means about a substantially horizontal pivot axis.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 including rotational ad justment means for rotating said cradle means and said spout'about a substantially horizontal rotational axis which is substantially parallel to said axis of rotation of said casting wheel and means for pivoting said cradle means about a substantially horizontal pivot axis-which is substantially perpendicular to said axis of rotation of said casting wheel.

10. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said means for controlling the flow of molten metal includes means, for

9 10 supporting the weight of molten metal in said vessel as 2,905,989 9/1959 Black 164-155 said vessel and said molten metal tend to pivot down- 3,255,499 6/1966 Crowell et a1. 214-86 wardly about a substantially horizontal pivot axis.

FOREIGN PATENTS References Cited 5 720,582 12/1954 Great Britain. UNITED STATES PATENTS 897,803 5/1962 Great Britain. 1,139,887 5/1915 Mellen 164-279 1,957,061 5/1934 Goldberg 254 97 J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Przmary Examiner. 2,224,906 12/1940 Fraula 21221 R. D. BALDWIN, Assistant Examiner.

2,820,999 1/1958 Meltzer et a1. 29473 10 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING A VESSEL RELATIVE TO A CASTING WHEEL ROTATABLE ABOUT AN AXIS ROTATION AND HAVING AN ANNULAR GROOVE INTO WHICH MOLTEN METAL IS DISCHARGED FROM SAID VESSEL THROUGH A SPOUT EXTENDING FROM AND MOVABLE WITH SAID VESSEL, CRADLE MEANS FOR RECEIVING SAID VESSEL, VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF SAID CRADLE MEANS AND SAID SPOUT RELATIVE TO SAID GROOVE ALONG A STRAIGHT SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL LINE OF MOTION, A FIRST HORIZONTAL ADJUSTMENT MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF SAID CRADLE MEANS AND SAID SPOUT ALONG A STRAIGHT SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL LINE OF MOTION SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID CASTING WHEEL, AND A SECOND HORIZONTAL ADJUSTMENT MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF SAID CRADLE MEANS AND SAID SPOUT ALONG A STRAIGHT SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL LINE OF MOTION SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID CASTING WHEEL. 